My experience is in Florida homes only. There are many factors that play into this scenario, first and foremost--PPS. LTC facilities are also under pressure from Medicare (with 100 day limits for post hospital care) and insurance companies to get their patients out quickly, which does leave empty beds. Many times, as the local hospital is full, so is the facility, if hospital census is low, so is the facility. Sure, in some cases families have input as to which facility the patient goes to, but they often rely on the recommendation of the discharge planner at the hospital, who has a relationship with one or two LTC facilities. Also, proximity plays a role, if the family is involved, they want mom or dad close to home, which is usually close to the hospital they were in. No matter how the referral gets to the facility, pt, family or D/C planner recommendation, the LTC facility will not spite its revenue stream by saying NO. Those decisio! ns, when
Most facility DONs will take whatever....then call the pharmacy or hospital to get the training or equipment they need to properly care for the patient.
Chris Cavanaugh, CRNI
----- Original Message -----
From: Lynn Hadaway <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Friday, March 17, 2006 11:07 am
Subject: Re: Midclavicular catheters
To: VICTORIA SALLESE <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> I had always known that home care was as Chris described but I
> always
> thought that LTC had more control over who came in their doors.
> With
> the aging of America and the demand for skilled nursing home beds,
> I
> really do not see that nursing homes must cater so strongly to the
> demands of referring physicians. In fact my mother has been in 3
> different nursing homes now and the physician was not involved in
> making an!
y of thos
